Таинственный остров

           Thatwouldhavesparedusallthesemisfortunes!"

           "Yes,"answeredthereporter,"butnowwehavetherighttobemerciless!"

           "Atanyrate,"saidtheengineer,"weareobligedtowaitsometime,andtoremainatthecorraluntilwecancarryHerbertwithoutdangertoGraniteHouse."

           "ButNeb?"askedthereporter.

           "Nebisinsafety."

           "Butif,uneasyatourabsence,hewouldventuretocome?"

           "Hemustnotcome!"returnedCyrusHardingquickly."Hewouldbemurderedontheroad!"

           "Itisveryprobable,however,thathewillattempttorejoinus!"

           "Ah,ifthetelegraphstillacted,hemightbewarned!Butthatisimpossiblenow!AstoleavingPencroftandHerbertherealone,wecouldnotdoit!Well,IwillgoalonetoGraniteHouse."

           "No,no!Cyrus,"answeredthereporter,"youmustnotexposeyourself!Yourcouragewouldbeofnoavail.Thevillainsareevidentlywatchingthecorral,theyarehiddeninthethickwoodswhichsurroundit,andifyougoweshallsoonhavetoregrettwomisfortunesinsteadofone!"

           "ButNeb?"repeatedtheengineer."Itisnowfour-and-twentyhourssincehehashadanynewsofus!Hewillbesuretocome!"

           "Andashewillbelessonhisguardthanweshouldbeourselves,"addedSpilett,"hewillbekilled!"

           "Istherereallynowayofwarninghim?"

           Whiletheengineerthought,hiseyesfellonTop,who,goingbackwardsandforwardsseemedtosay,—

           "AmnotIhere?"

           "Top!"exclaimedCyrusHarding.

           Theanimalsprangathismaster’scall.